Indian carrier SpiceJet announced commitments for up to 163 additional Boeing 737 MAX jets at a January 13 event in New Delhi.

Indian carrier SpiceJet announced commitments for up to 163 additional Boeing 737 MAX jets at a January 13 event in New Delhi.

The announcement reveals SpiceJet has signed a new commitment for 100 737 MAX 8s and, in addition to an existing order for 42 737 MAXs, added an order for 13 737 MAXs which were previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

SpiceJet has also added purchase rights for 50 more 737 MAX aircraft.

On January 13, 2017, Indian carrier SpiceJet announced a new order for 13 Boeing 737 MAX jets, as well as commitments for 100 more and purchase rights on 50 additional 737 MAXs. SpiceJet had previously placed an order for 42 737 MAX aircraft

Boeing Commercial Airplanes booked the new SpiceJet order and commitments at the end of 2016.

“The Boeing 737 class of aircraft has been the backbone of our fleet since SpiceJet began, with its high reliability, low operation economies and comfort,” says Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director of SpiceJet. “With the next generation of 737 and the 737 MAX we are sure that we can be competitive and grow profitably.”

SpiceJet, which operates 17 Bombardier Q400 turboprops in addition to its all-737 jet fleet, placed its first order with Boeing in 2005, for 737NGs.

Gurgaon-headquartered SpiceJet now operates 32 737NGs, most of which are 737-800s.

The 737 MAX family is powered by the new CFM International LEAP-1B engine and 737 MAX airframes incorporate Boeing’s Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements.

According to the manufacturer, the 737 MAX will offer 20 per cent lower fuel use than the first Next-Generation 737s and Boeing claims its new single-aisle family will have the lowest operating costs in its class – 8 per cent per seat less than its nearest competitor.